Zimmerman of Groveport Works Exit Polls During March Primary and State Primary Election

Elise
Zimmerman, a Muskingum University political science major of Groveport,
distributed and tallied exit poll surveys on behalf of Edison Research during
the primary and state primary election last March. She worked outside of the
First Baptist Church of West Lafayette precinct for Coshocton
County.

Zimmerman was given the opportunity to distribute surveys after
Dr. Richard Arnold, Muskingum University associate professor of political
science, shared the opportunity during class. She was interested in seeing how
and why people voted. “Being a political science major, I really care a lot
about the voting system,” said Zimmerman. “That’s exactly what the survey asks.
It was an anonymous survey, so I don’t know who was answering what, but I did
get to see overall trends.”

An aspect of the job she enjoyed was viewing
the trends at her precinct in comparison to official results. Zimmerman
recognized the results she tallied from the surveys were “very close to the
actual Ohio Primary results.”

Zimmerman feels the experience was
worth-while and helped direct her toward what she wants to do post-graduation
this December. She is open to working exit polls come Election Day She hopes to
pursue a career focused on human rights and “the progression of society.” “I
think that [this experience] even reinforced that I want to do activism,” said
Zimmerman.